California: Napa Valley, Enjoy Spirited Holiday Events with Your Family. Share wine country with our kids. Why not? Welcoming communities, combined with the Napa’s exceptional wines and fine foods, offer visitors the perfect hometown holiday experience with a touch of panache.

Here’s the scoop. During the holidays, the Napa Valley’s traditions come alive with magical settings offering everything from a lighted tractor parade to winter wonderlands complete with horse drawn carriage rides as well as festive winery parties and special holiday dinners prepared by celebrated chefs. 

Yountville’s 24th annual Festival of Lights & WINTERSCAPE (November-December). On November 23rd, Yountville will be transformed into a glowing winter wonderland ideal for celebrating the season. And throughout December, Winterscape will provides a range of holiday entertainment including carolers, horse-drawn carriage rides, food and wine events, plus chances to visit with Santa.  Bonus points for families:  Celebrate the season with Napa Regional Dance Company's annual Nutcracker production at the Lincoln Theater. This vibrant, full-length classical ballet showcases local talent and has become a favorite holiday tradition. Make it happen: Planning details at (707) 944-0904 or www.Yountville.com
 
Calistoga 17th annual Lighted Tractor Parade (December 1, 2012). This quirky parade is perhaps the ultimate small-town holiday family fun. Vintage and modern tractors, antique trucks, and construction equipment bedecked with dazzling lights will roll down Calistoga's scenic main street to celebrate the season and the city's agricultural heritage in a uniquely fun way. This popular and charming Napa Valley event gets bigger and better every year and is perfect for the whole family.  Local merchants stay open late for holiday shopping and offer spiced cider, Christmas cookies and other sweet treats. Wait for it! Santa will be making a special appearance.  Bonus points for families: If Calistoga as a destination is a blur, let me clear things up. It is home to Old Faithful Geyser of California, the Napa Valley Wine Train, Safari West wildlife preserve, and the majestic petrified Redwood Forest.  Any time of year it is the place for a mother- daughter spa break with relaxating geothermal waters and mud baths. Make it happen:  Calistoga Visitors' Center (707) 942-6333, toll-free 1-866- 306-5588 or www.CalistogaVisitors.com
  
The Twelve Days of Christmas at Meadowood (December 7-22, 2012). For mature families who have mastered the art of sharing wine and fine dining this event looks quiet promising. Imagine 12 of the country's most renowned chefs collaborating with 12 of The Napa Valley's preeminent vintners to present holiday feasts on 12 festive December evenings at Meadowood. It is described as a signature holiday culinary extravaganza and quick browse of the participants will convey the amount of creative energy being assembled. No two days will be the same but each will be exceptional. Make it happen: Toll-free 1-800- 458- 8080 or www.meadowood.com
 
NAPA’S Holiday HISTORIC B&B Tour and Taste (December 1, 2012).  Featuring food and wine pairings from the City of Napa’s premiere chefs and winemakers, each of the 12 historic Napa inns will be decked out for the holidays with festive lights and entertainment - live music, choral ensembles, pastry demonstrations and even mini massages. Buses and shuttles will provide complementary transportation between inns. Tickets include food, wine and access to all B&B tours. http://www.napaholidaytour.com/

Location on the planet. A distinctive collection of small towns and villages span 30-mile long Napa Valley north of San Francisco. Napa Valley Welcome Center 600 Main Street Napa, CA 94559.

Make it happen. Napa Valley (707) 251-5895 or www.LegendaryNapaValley.com for more information or to download the new Visit Napa Valley Mobile App, and join “The Napa Valley” community on Facebook or follow on Twitter at @LegendaryNapa.

About The Napa Valley, California. The Napa Valley is home to the founders of America’s fine wine industry - legendary entrepreneurs who showed the world that the art of winemaking had crossed continents - and is prized for its natural beauty, phenomenal culinary scene, world-class hotel accommodations, robust arts community, and one-of-a-kind wellness experiences including the region’s famed spas, mud baths and healing geothermal springs. The area was voted the World’s #1 Food & Wine Destination in the 2010 TripAdvisor® Travelers' Choice® Awards, and is internationally recognized as one of only nine “Great Wine Capitals.”

Content & images provided by Napa Valley; Santa train image by Ivan Miller; comments by Nancy Nelson-Duac, Editor FTF.  Copyright 2012.